At the LAUSD bus yard in Sun Valley, new electric busses are charged Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced a new 75 million-dollar plan to convert the bus yard to be completely electric by 2026. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Los Angeles Unified School District is making a $75 million investment in electric school buses and chargers, the largest such purchase of any school district in the nation, in an effort to cut its carbon footprint and provide a more sustainable transportation system for its students.
The district plans on completely transitioning the Sun Valley Bus Yard to an electric fleet by 2026 through the acquisition of 180 electric buses and chargers. This yard currently serves around 4,600 students daily who live in the northern portion of the district.
“We must fully commit ourselves to creating a model of sustainability that benefits our students, our school communities and generations to come,” said Superintendent Alberto Carvalho at a Tuesday press conference. “Los Angeles Unified is leading the charge to a more sustainable future with this important investment.”
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced a new 75 million-dollar plan to convert the Sun Valley bus yard to be completely electric by 2026. The yard boarders a school playground and Carvalho says it is unacceptable to have fuel-powered busses being serviced next to a school. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
New all-electric busses at the LAUSD bus yard in Sun Valley Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced a new 75 million-dollar plan to convert the bus yard to be completely electric by 2026. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
New all-electric busses at the LAUSD bus yard in Sun Valley Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced a new 75 million-dollar plan to convert the bus yard to be completely electric by 2026. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
At the LAUSD bus yard in Sun Valley, new electric busses charge, next to a school playground Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced a new 75 million-dollar plan to convert the bus yard to be completely electric by 2026. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
LAUSD board member Kelly Gonez made a big push to get the Sun Valley bus yard converted to all-electric busses. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced a new 75 million-dollar plan to convert the bus yard to be completely electric by 2026. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
At the LAUSD bus yard in Sun Valley, new electric busses are charged Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced a new 75 million-dollar plan to convert the bus yard to be completely electric by 2026. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced a new 75 million-dollar plan to convert the Sun Valley bus yard to be completely electric by 2026. The yard boarders a school playground and Carvalho says it is unacceptable to have fuel-powered busses being serviced next to a school. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced a new 75 million-dollar plan to convert the Sun Valley bus yard to be completely electric by 2026. The yard boarders a school playground and Carvalho says it is unacceptable to have fuel-powered busses being serviced next to a school. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The investment is expected to remove 780,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and save the district $2 million on bus maintenance and fuel costs annually.
“Today we are making a bold commitment to prioritize the Sun Valley Bus Yard and invest in a greener, more sustainable future,” Board Member Kelly Gonez said. “This announcement has been years in the making, and I have been glad to work alongside the Sun Valley community to push for a change that will benefit students, bus drivers, educators and the public as a whole.”
This project is being developed in line with the sustainability goals the school board set in 2019: to achieve 100% renewable energy in the district’s electricity sector by 2030 and in all sectors — including heating, ventilation, air conditioning cooking and transportation — by 2040.
